New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-27
A BIT OF OBSCURE HISTORY.
LAMAR AND THE ASSOCIATE JUsTICEsHIP.
FORGOTTEN But STRIKING ILLUSTRATION OF HIS
WONDERFULLY JUDICIAL TEMPERAMENT
HIS FREEDOMS SHREK IN A MIS-
sISSIPPI COURTROOM
fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]


| WASHINGTON, June 26.-It seems to be taken for
granted nearly everybody that Secretary Lamar is
be appointed to the vacancy caused by the death OF
Associate Justice Woods despite the fact that Secretary
Farchld yesterday expressed the opinion that the Cab
met will remain intact until the end OF Mr. Clevelands
Administration. In nearly all the newspaper comments
which favor the appointment of Mr. Lamar, much space
Ia given to emphatic praise Of his judicial tempera-
ment," his conservative habits Of thought" his free
| dom from ebulitions of passion" Some passages In
Colonel Lamars life evidently have been forgotten His
eulogy Sumner is recalled and appauded the
Of his euogy Jefferson Davis in the Senate has be-
come obscure. Colonel Lamars conservatism and dis
passionate temperament must be regarged among his
recent acquisitions II he possesses them.
In 1871 he professor of law In the University OF
Mississippi at oxford He may have taught the theory
OF obedience to law and respect judicial tribunals and
proceedings but occasion at least in the presence
of many OF his students his example did not accord with
the preceps which he should have sought to inculcate
Colonel Lamar had served several years Congress be-
fore the war, and in 1871 he anxious to recntcr
political life. The district in which he lived Repub
lican by majority OF some 1000 in total vote Of
l6,500 In 1872 Colonel Lamar, however a
fn canddate-thc Republican vote had dwndlcd in two
years from 10000 to 5000 and the Democratic vote had
increased nearly 1000 in the period. It was
glorious period in the annals Of the Mississippi DEM
ocrats.
| Republicans and Northern men generally were the
victims OF system Of terrorism exercised by armed and
masked who deGcd the civil authorities and
whipped and murdered Northern and negroes in
every direction In June 1871 dozen or more of the
alleged to be guilty OF such outrages arrested
aud brought to trial before United states District Judge
IIill who had been appointed by Andrew Johnson five
years before Among the spectators in the courtroom
during tho trial Professor Lamar and number OF
his students lie not there counsel but by virtue
OF his pri Silcgc attorney While hearing was In
progress Professor Lamar assaulted the United States
oil 70
practice. In his testimony before joint committee OF
Congress- United States Distrct.Attorncy Wells who
conducted the prosecution described the affair in part
rs follows:
| Committcc-You alluded while ago TO a man named
W isscr who was killed some few days since in Macon,
Noxubcc County. viii you please state to the com
mittee any fact within knowledge information
which tends TO show that the connected with this
organization pcrTctratej inctcl that assassination,
and ali facts connected with his case .,
Mr.. wells-I am vcr% glad that the committee will
allow make the statement, because there has been
much said in regart to that that is wholly I'M
true anI much parade made through the newspapers
that would like 10 have the matter set right publicly
| Mr. Wisser 10 oxford rs witness upon certain
Ku-Klux trials that then pending and while he was
there difficulty arose somewhat after this manner so
Wis,cr told He standing on the street talking
with a cOlOrcd man. when n drunken man came up and
assaulted him with something, saying: You =" or
language that effect. when Wissler Immediately turned
and struck him. but instantly discovering that he
was drunk he turned and left hu. Soon after he met
Genera, Lamar the steps OF the Court House as he
was coming up, and accostel him. General Lamar soon
after came into the and Wisscr was walk
ing ont of the he said 10 the Judge: want
this man that Is leaving arrested" Wssler Immediately
turned around aud back. facing General Lamar,
about four feet from him, when General Lamar says:
! May 1t please your Honor standing below here
IIIst now when this beast, this wretch-for know
Il nth to tD II
ebrate who had Just up TO him and accosted him
In gcutccl manner He after met me on the steps
aud accosci I'm worls like these: What time does
the court meet - by his language Judged that he
foreigner, and passed him by, for do not speak TO
sucn men" wssler was, by this time, sitting on the
steps leading to the Judges seat After he made this
declaration he says: | started to ride away my
horse when heard one Of the In the company ask:
who is that To which Wisslcr replied That Is Gen
era Lamar the - and the rest was lost Ia me as went
away Now sir as Of the respectable citizens
In this community placed under arrest here for
violation OF the peace, AK your iionor no 10 put 'h'
Commitee-ro whom was this language addressed
Mr. wes-To Judge Iiill; It was while we were trying
oxford Court Mr.. Wssler rosc and. General Lamar
aftcrward said, stepped toward him. was not looking
at him at the moment saw MN rise anu tutn ABOUT
half round 10 face the Judge and say something IN
his defence. myself was waiting AMI watching for an
opportunity 20 say General Lamar II this man had
violated any OF his rights he should send him to me
say that Wisser and turned As he turned around
Lamar erksd up chair and starieg fdr towara @
The Judge started up and WIN MS hands hands ettendc
frGI; as rnrra lamar, General Lanarl While
General Lamar advancing toward him with heavy
started started across to take hold of Lamar TO quiet him
knew him 20 be very nervous man ana we were warm
armed and back OF me stepped toward him. At that in
stant General Lamar dropped the chair Before could
say word he hauled on and struck the Marshal power
ful blow, breaking small bone at the cap OF the eye
When Marshal Pierce was knocked down the scene was
one of perfect excitement mo hWhIuN PIlsohors
jumped into the bar from the prisoners box where
S fcr mFfs them cn 90 for y scene Of utter co
fusion followed Some of the awyers-GeneraI Feather
into a side room. | begged them to take him away as
there would be trouble II they did not General Lamar
been perhaps somewhat disgraccful." will repeat
his language as nearly AS can ana IT was impressed on
my friendship for him and my consciousness tnat we
were in such disgracefu scene. lie said; This has.
perhaps dsgracefu affair my part hero In this
court but want it understood here distinctly now ana
forever that while you here shackng the freedom OF
these people. you, sitting upon that bench with your
mnOns cannot for ono moment suppress my voice when
il is raised in behalf liberty and Justice Sir before
will allow the dust OF oxford TO drink my blood You
may send to Jail you may fine me II you Will put
understand you and all the resthat you cannot for one
moment shacke the freedom OF this body OF mine nor
sfc my voice" The student, and some other men VINO
In tho back part OF the courtroom commenGsa ,
Cheering GSsa 9 ahd tcss anI thonht time as
the Marshal confused and scarce able to make out
what he doing, and that was my duty to speak out
There were two soldiers In tlo Court House said to
the soldiers, bring these men In the bar General
l
told him. No. SIR am orcer and shall try to keep
order" and l told him. sir you must not put your
hands upon me-" At that 4pment number OF young
men who had rushed out when the occurrence com
menced were returning some of them with pistols
drawn. others with pistols buckled upon them They
came into stepped out OF the bar ana
told the soldiers again TO Them They stood mute
and did do thing II, foreman Of the Grand Jury
H. Is. Emery had run out at the commencement or INC
excitement 10 the camp OF Lieutenant DE Rode and got
six with carbncs who came up into the courtroom
while everything WAS in sta of confusion Instantly
the crowd dispersed everything quiet and the Judge
adjourned the 1t is due 'nce this affair has been
brought up state that Colonel Reynolds and Colonel
Dow for the prisoners, from the first di their
keep the prisoners IN their places and also 10
suppress disturbance The next morning after the